All the projects we finance must be bankable. But they also must comply with high technical, environmental and social standards.

The combined expertise of our economists, engineers, financial analysts and climate specialists ensures the success of our projects. In turn, the stamp of approval from our specialists triggers more investment from the private sector.

Our clients

We lend to the public and private sectors. We support small companies through local banks and lend money to innovative start-ups. Mid-cap companies can receive direct support for research and development investments.

We do not lend more than half of the cost of a project, because we want our loans to crowd in financing from private investors and other public financial institutions.

The Bank offers a wide range of financial products at favourable terms. For certain projects that support innovation and skills in Europe, we accept more risk than a commercial bank. We also offer technical assistance to help prepare and implement projects.

The EIB is financially autonomous. We raise money by issuing bonds on international capital markets. The EIB’s top credit rating means we raise money at competitive rates and we pass on these benefits to our clients.

We are one of the greenest multilateral banks on the global markets. The EIB was the pioneer of the green bond market, with the launch of the Climate Awareness Bonds (CABs) in 2007. In 2018, the Bank launched its first Sustainability Awareness Bond (SAB).

Responding to today’s challenges

In response to the financial crisis, the Bank embarked on a path of change and modernisation. And it has produced real results.

One of our tools is the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI), a part of the Investment Plan for Europe (also known as the “Juncker Plan”). It aims to bridge the big investment gap in Europe by creating EUR 500 billion in investment by 2020. By the end of 2018, the EIB Group had approved EUR 70.4 billion in financing for EFSI and mobilised EUR 375.5 billion in investment.

But our response to today’s priorities goes beyond the EU borders. The EIB’s Economic Resilience Initiative (ERI) increases financing in the Southern Neighbourhood and the Western Balkans, also in the context of the migration challenge. This initiative enables us to respond to future crises more quickly and efficiently.